aw rint October 2016 Volume 16, Issue 1 Stella Binion ‘17 recites poetry at White House By CAROLINE BERNET Staff Writer Stella Binion steps on stage performances on a regular basis, The freshmen she’s been a PAL to deliver a poem, but she is not always perfecting her writing as for have really looked up to her as standing in Chicago. She is in well as her performing skills. a role model as well as for support Washington D.C. in front of First But in recent news, she submit- managing Payton’s environment. Lady Michelle Obama. ted one of her poems to the Scho- “Stella encourages others to She is nervous, but at the same lastic Art and Writing Awards, step out of their comfort zones and time, she knows that the message where two of her pieces were re- engage,” said Lindsay Opie ‘17, of her poem deserves to be heard, viewed and given Silver Awards. also a PAL. especially by the First Lady. Next, through the same pro- “She’s great at bringing people Much of the Payton community gram she submitted a longer appli- together. As a peer and classmate, already knows her – Stella Binion cation that included more of her as she brings in multiple perspectives is involved in Payton Advisory a person and how poetry has influ- in the discussions which really Leaders (PALs), Youth Wellness enced her. She was then selected to helps people have better discus- Team, Payton Organization of be a 2016 National Student Poet, sion.” Women, and the Payton Art and one of five, representing the Mid- Her peers see that she is always Literature Magazine. But while west region. a part of the conversation and that most Payton students were sit- Beyond Stella’s poetry ca- through her personality she is able ting through their first math class reer, she is an active member of to push people to talk about press- of the year and trying to find their the Payton community. She has ing issues and really get meaning- English class in the new building, helped plan the Gender Equality ful interactions throughout Payton. Stella was shaking hands with for Teens conference since fresh- “The way she calls anyone’s at- Michelle Obama, accepting a na- man year, has contributed her tention is so smooth; it’s like we tional award acknowledging her strong personality and leadership listen up because we know she’s poetry accomplishments. skills in PALS, and has worked about to share something mean- So how did this Payton senior hard to establish relationships with ingful, and she’s going to do so get national recognition? It all teachers and students alike within while making us feel so comfort- started with her love of poetry and Payton. able,” said Alexis Roman ‘17, a desire to perform. It’s clear that she is leaving a fellow peer and lead PAL, on his Stella knew that she loved po- great impression on Payton: “In relationship with Stella on a day- etry and decided to start writing all honesty, when I first saw her, to-day basis. slam poems and performing. Dur- she looked like someone who was “I have mad respect for Stella ing her sophomore year, she audi- there for you, and could be there for that. I’m privileged to be able tioned and got a role on a Rebirth to lend a helping hand,” said Liam to work with her as a leader, but Stella Binion ‘17 stands proud after performing her poem in the slam team. From there she had Dillon ‘20, a member of her fresh- I’m truly blessed to have her as a White House. to be committed to practices and man advisory. friend.” Photo courtesy of Stella Binion Chromebooks for everyone: Payton goes one-to-one By ALLISON CHO, CAMILLE GRANDJEAN, and GRACE MCDERMOTT Editors in the conversation in developing aren’t counting their losses. to Payton’s academic environ- this,” he explained. “This is part of “I don’t feel like I’m missing ment. our CIWP, which is the Continu- out because most of our learning “It’s not just computers for all ous Improvement Work Plan that should be done through human students for the sake of having all schools in the state of Illinois interaction,” said Olive Welsh computers, but rather a tool for ac- have.” ‘17. “The school should allow stu- ademic inquiry into solving prob- Students informed of the deci- dents to bring their own laptops to lems and creating innovative solu- sion expressed surprise, taking school and lend Chromebooks to tions to problems,” said Devine. several factors into consideration students who don’t have one.” “The access of many resources for when looking at potential effects While many students are able students is critical to being able to of the one-to-one program. to bring their own laptops to solve problems in a meaningful “I think it’s a cool, innovative school, teachers cannot currently way.” step for Payton, but I think one- form a curriculum assuming every In addition to the growth of Chromebooks are set to be the newest addition to Payton’s curricu- to-one systems sometimes make student has a laptop, limiting the critical analysis skills, Devine ex- lum next fall. Photo by Allison Cho it harder to focus during class be- curricular possibilities in terms of pects this program to help Payton cause you have the technology in technology. Principal Devine is students in college and the real Many students are familiar with ministration has begun to rethink front of you,” said Emmy Smith excited about the prospects that the current school laptops: bulky, technology at a school of almost a ‘20. one-to-one computing will bring continued on p. 3 slow, and constantly low on bat- thousand. However, few predicted For the students who already tery. But technology at Payton will a scenario where every student bring their own laptop to school, soon undergo a drastic change in would have their own laptop, a this change may not reap many SEE INSIDE its role and quality, in an effort to four-year plan expected to be ef- benefits. further enhance the developing fective at the beginning of next Michael Haran ‘18, said a project-based curriculum. fall. laptop provided from the school Triggers ..... p. 2 In the fall of 2017, Payton will According to Principal Tim would “probably not [be benefi- be implementing one-to-one com- Devine, the recently approved cial]; I don’t see why I would need puting into every classroom; in proposal was not his alone. In fact, a second laptop.” Eva Lewis ..... p. 3 other words, each and every Pay- the discussion behind the decision The one-to-one program will ton student will be getting their included input from many parts of not be implemented until the fall Bag Check ..... p. 5 own laptop to use at school, home, the Payton community. of 2017, which means current se- or anywhere in between. “The Local School Council, niors will not have the chance to New Faculty ..... p. 6 With the number of incoming which has representation from experience the impending change. freshmen steadily increasing, it’s students, parents, community, Although current seniors will no surprise that the Payton ad- and faculty, was front and center barely miss this development, they Sports ..... p. 7 2 OPINION PAW PRINT October 2016 Triggers and education: #StopTheStigma By ISABEL CONSTANTINO Staff Writer (Trigger Warning: discussions of of your mouth, and moving a body you want to make life worse for over the corrective learning that ableism, suicide) part, seeing it move, and feeling as someone who already has a brain has taken place. After the Univeristy of Chicago if it was moving under someone that’s giving them a hard time? To begin with, exposure ther- released a letter to incoming fresh- else’s volition. apy is typically graded, meaning men providing a warm welcome to EXPOSURE THERAPY the least distressing of the triggers the class of 2020, saying that they ANXIETY ATTACKS Another common argument would be addressed first. Within a do not agree with the use of trig- Anxiety attacks typically in- against providing trigger warn- classroom setting there would be ger warnings in education, trigger volve intense feelings of fear as ings in education is that of expo- no telling what level of distress the warnings had reached a new low in well as physical reactions to the sure therapy. As the thinking goes, trigger in question causes, as their Walter Payton the opinion of some of the public. feeling of fear, such as hyperven- given that exposure therapy is would be no previous consulting College Preparatory Arguments against them start- tilation, crying, shaking, sweating, such a lauded approach to treating with the patient as would occur in High School ed off targeting those who first and a rapid heartbeat. PTSD, one shouldn’t provide trig- actual therapy. 1034 North Wells Street began to advocate for their use, They come as a sort of a cli- ger warnings so as to “expose” the In order to be effective, in vivo namely intersectional feminists, max to a stressful situation or day afflicted to their triggers. exposure therapy would have to Chicago, IL 60610 then spread as an example to be and can occur after dissociation. Most psychiatric organizations, have a thirty to sixty minute ex- phone: 773.534.0034 mocked of our society’s growing Panic attacks come with nearly no including that of the APA (Ameri- posure to the trigger.